Senior Gameplay Programmer - Lead & Mentor (Unreal)

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Paid time off

Professional development

On-site amenities

Pension fund contributions

Team-building events

Local benefits subsidy

Job summary

Placements24 in East London, SA, is hiring a Senior Game Programmer (Gameplay) to lead core gameplay systems using C++. You will collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to implement engaging mechanics and optimize performance across engines like Unreal or Unity.

As a senior team member, you will mentor junior programmers, contribute to architecture decisions, and help shape the technical vision while delivering high-quality entertainment for players worldwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of professional game development experience with gameplay focus.
• Expert proficiency in C++ and OO programming.
• Strong experience with Unreal Engine or Unity.
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization.
• Mentor and collaborate with designers and engineers.
• Strong problem-solving and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain core gameplay systems using C++.
• Collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to refine gameplay mechanics.
• Optimize performance for target platforms and ensure smooth gameplay.
• Develop robust, reusable and well-structured code.
• Mentor junior programmers and conduct code reviews.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical design decisions.
• Identify and resolve complex technical issues in gameplay codebase.
• Contribute to engine features and tools to improve workflow.
• Stay updated with game development technologies and practices.
• Ensure technical implementation aligns with creative vision.

Skills

C++

Gameplay programming

Problem-solving

Team mentorship

Education

Bachelor's in CS or related field

Tools

Unreal Engine

Unity

Git/Perforce

Job description

Placements24 in East London, SA, is hiring a Senior Game Programmer (Gameplay) to lead core gameplay systems using C++. You will collaborate with designers, artists, and engineers to implement engaging mechanics and optimize performance across engines like Unreal or Unity.

As a senior team member, you will mentor junior programmers, contribute to architecture decisions, and help shape the technical vision while delivering high-quality entertainment for players worldwide.